Method and apparatus for transferring and operating on articles

Abstract

The features of the invention are illustrated in a preferred embodiment which provides novel apparatus for carrying out the method of automatically beveling the edges or rims of television picture tube funnel or viewing panel components. The components are delivered to an input station from which they are successively transferred to an edge beveling station. Each component is clamped at the beveling station with the rim at a predetermined height. The rim edges are contacted with edge beveling means also located to bevel at the same predetermined height. The edge beveling means and the rim are moved with respect to each other at the predetermined height until the beveling is completed to obtain a uniform bevel completely around the rim. The completion of the beveling operation is sensed to release the clamping of the component at the beveling station and the beveled component is transferred to a discharge station. A component to be beveled is advantageously transferred from the input station to the beveling station while a beveled component is being transferred from the beveling station to the discharge station. Each component is aligned at the input station to insure proper orientation for transferring the component to the beveling station to enable clamping. The beveling of components is limited in accordance with the requirements of a successive operation station.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for beveling the edges or rims of television picture tube funnel or viewing panel components comprising a. an input station, an edge beveling station, and a discharge station in linear alignment, said input and discharge stations being spaced the same distance from said beveling station;   b. said input station including a delivery conveyor; and an alignment fixture having an alignment channel above and opening upstream of the run of said conveyor; said aligning channel including a semicircular terminal portion having a diameter equal to the diagonal of the component, and channel sides extending outwardly toward the edge of the conveyor to direct the component into the terminal portion of the channel;   c. transfer means for moving components between stations including a first carriage horizontally movable along said stations and a second vertically movable carriage, one of said first and second carriages being mounted on and movable with the other of said carriages;   d. said second carriage having two spaced component handling arms extending over said stations, the spacing of said arms matching the spacing between said beveling station and each of said input and output stations;   e. means for raising and lowering said second carriage to enable pickup of components at said input and edge beveling stations simultaneously and the deposit of said components at said beveling and discharge simultaneously, respectively;   f. means for moving said first carriage back and forth enabling transfer of components between successive stations; and   g. means at said edge beveling station for beveling the sealing edge or rim of a component in said edge beveling station.   
     
     
       2. A method for automatically beveling the edges or rims of television picture tube funnel or viewing panel components, comprising the steps of a. automatically delivering components to an input station,   b. automatically in response to the presence of a component at the input station successively transferring each component from said input station to an edge beveling station,   c. automatically clamping each component at said beveling station with the rim at a predetermined height,   d. automatically contacting the rim edges with edge beveling means also located at said predetermined height,   e. automatically moving said edge beveling means and said rim with respect to each other at said predetermined height until the beveling is completed to obtain a uniform bevel completely around said rim,   f. automatically sensing bevel completion to release the clamping of a component, and   g. automatically transferring said beveled component from said beveling station to a discharge station, the steps of transferring a component from said input station to an edge beveling station and transferring a beveled component from said beveling station to a discharge station being accomplished simultaneously.   
     
     
       3. A method as defined in claim 2 which further includes the step of aligning each component at said input station with means to transfer the component to insure proper orientation for transferring the component to said beveling station to enable clamping. 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in claim 2 which further includes the step of automatically inhibiting the beveling of components in response to the absence of a requirement for a component at a successive operation station.